There were 12,973 births and 13,621 deaths registered in Scotland between 1 April and 30 June 2018, according to provisional figures released today by National Records of Scotland. Compared to the quarter two average for the last five years, births have fallen (5 per cent lower) and deaths were broadly similar (0.5 per cent higher).

The publication, 'Births, deaths and other vital events, second quarter 2018', shows that at 12,973, the number of births registered was 0.1 per cent higher than in the same period of 2017 and the second lowest quarter two total since 2003 (quarter two of 2017 was the lowest).

At 13,621, the number of deaths registered was 1.2 per cent lower than in the same period of 2017. Following a long-term downward trend in deaths, reaching a low of 12,770 in quarter two of 2009, the number of deaths in the second quarter has begun to rise although there has been little change in the last five years.

Compared with the second quarter of 2017:

The number of cancer deaths rose by 2.0 per cent to 3,920; Deaths from respiratory diseases fell by 11.1 per cent (by 183 to 1,464); The number of deaths from coronary heart disease fell by 1.0 per cent to 1,581. The number of deaths from dementia and Alzheimer's disease fell by 8.6 per cent to 1,380; There were 860 deaths from cerebrovascular disease (a decrease of 5.8 per cent);The provisional figures also show there were 7,820 marriages in total, 197 fewer than during the second quarter of 2017 (a fall of 2.5 per cent). There were 253 same-sex marriages, a fall of 13 (5.4 per cent) compared with the same period of 2017. Eighteen (7.1 per cent) of the same sex marriages registered in the second quarter were changes from civil partnerships. There were 15 civil partnerships (7 male and 8 female), five more than during the second quarter of 2017.

Anne Slater, the Registrar General for Scotland, said:

"Following the sharp increase in quarter one deaths in 2018, the number of deaths in quarter two have returned to normal levels for the time of year. Although there was a very small increase in births compared to the same quarter last year, births were five per cent lower than the quarter two average for the last five years and the latest quarter represents the second lowest quarter two total since 2003."